Stalking suspect backs out on plea deal

Laurie Mason Schroeder, Of The Morning Call

Flint A. Staton, the Montgomery County man allegedly caught following his estranged wife in Emmaus wearing body armor and carrying a cache of weapons last year, withdrew his no contest plea Tuesday in Lehigh County Court and demanded a jury trial.

Staton, 32, of Perkiomenville also asked that his case be moved to another county, complaining about pretrial publicity. He rejected a plea bargain that would have capped his minimum prison sentence at 10 years.

"Yeah, I believe I'm innocent and there's insufficient evidence and I want a jury trial," he told Judge James T. Anthony.

Staton was arrested Feb. 4, 2013, after a police officer spotted him following his wife as she drove to work around 5 a.m.

He was pulled over on Main Street, and police say he was wearing illegal body armor under his clothing. In the car, police say, they found a mask, three large knives, a stun gun, two wigs, binoculars, duct tape, gloves, a large machete and a Valentine's Day card.

With the card, titled "A Promise for My Wife," police say they found a 39-page note they say depicted various forms of killing and violence.

A more thorough search of the car yielded a handgun, ammunition and brass knuckles. Police say there were two restraining orders against Staton that prohibited him from possessing weapons. His wife had complained to police that he was following her a week before his arrest.

Staton pleaded no contest in May to charges of stalking, terroristic threats, unlawful possession of body armor and firearms offenses.

In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea.

Staton was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday. Instead, he announced through his attorney, Carol Marciano, that he wanted a trial.

Prosecutor Robert Schopf did not object to the motion. He said he is prepared to take the case before a jury.

Anthony set a trial date for Oct. 13. Staton's change of venue motion will be addressed closer to trial, his attorney said.

If convicted by a jury, Staton could be sentenced to more than 40 years behind bars.

Staton had been separated from his wife, Anne Staton, for more than a year before his arrest. During that year, court records say, he violated three protection-from-abuse orders lodged against him.